Hammersmith IPA
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

 

Why this beer isn't brewed anymore is beyond me. It was one of the best IPA's I've ever had. Please Firestone Walker Brewing Company, if you're still out there, bring this back.

I'd always thought I'd heard this FW's English-style IPA. I don't know that I'd call it that, but what I would call it is a home-fucking-run. Who cares about styles when beers taste like this? Great, bright hoppy nose, definitely some florals, a touch of earth, absolutely something fruity (I'd dare say tropical), and an incredibly well done, light but present malt note, not at all cloyingly caramel, more like rustic bread perhaps? Palate follows suit, great hop pungency, great dried out malt character, incredible moreish and utterly delightful. I'm not much of a volume drinker, but holy hell I'd drink this by the liter.

 

 

Brewery only...got a growler and enjoyed with friends...love Union Jack..enjoyed this a lot too. Fortem is better.

 

 

 

 

 

 

On tap at Firestone Walker Tap Room

A: Pours copper orange with a frothy light tan head that settles to a light layer and leaves some nice lacing.

S: Floral, light citrus zest, a little pine, light fruity notes, slightly earthy toasty bready malt, and a some toffee sweetness.

T: Floral, citrus zest, orange and grapefruit, a bit spicy, fruity notes, a little pine, toasty bready malt, and a little toffee sweetness.

M: Medium body, moderate carbonation.

O: By far the best English IPA I've had. Balanced but plenty of hop bite and flavor.

On tap at the source in Buellton. Orange glow, this is the prettiest EIPA I've ever seen. Already seems suspect, and then you get all kinds of tropical fruit aromas. Yeah, sure FW, this is a EIPA. . . nonetheless it smells delicious.

Taste solidly American west coast ipa. I dunno, maybe they used an English yeast, but the hops are definitely all Americana. I drank like 5 pints of this, was my favorite they had at the main bar.

I actually prefer Hammersmith to Union Jack.